Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Canada is looking to sell its oil and natural gas in Asia after the U.S. administration delayed a decision on a controversial $7-billion pipeline project.

Approving the Keystone XL oil pipeline to transport Canadian crude to refineries in Texas from Alberta’s oilsands was a “no brainer,” Prime Minister Stephen Harper said earlier.

He even predicted it would be approved by the end of the year and construction would begin soon afterwards.

After all, it would have created thousands of jobs in the U.S. and provided a major source of oil to its neighbor and largest trading partner to help ease dependence on crude from non-friendly Middle East nations, he reasoned.

Harper expressed Canada’s disappointment in a meeting last week in Hawaii with President Barack Obama after the U.S. State Department asked for a different route through Nebraska and a further environmental assessment.

“This highlights why Canada must increase its efforts to make sure it can supply its energy outside of the United States and into Asia in particular," Harper said.

Chinese President Hu Jintao said he approves of Canada’s bid to reach out and invited Harper to visit to discuss a potential deal.

Monday, November 14, 2011

They’ve made their point and now it’s time to move on, Occupy groups camped out in parks and public areas across Canada are being told.

After weeks of protests against “corporate greed and economic inequity,” tensions are growing and police are being asked to take action.

There are mounting concerns over safety, highlighted by the drug overdose death of a 23-year-old woman in a tent at the Vancouver protest and open fires.

With colder weather arriving, protesters are erecting more permanent shelters and using campfires to stay warm in violation of city laws.

Montreal officials refused to allow protesters to build makeshift wooden cabins but they say they’ll do it anyway.

Toronto residents have “had enough” of the protesters camping in a downtown park and it’s time for them to go, Mayor Rob Ford said.

Eviction notices are planned against the squatters in Victoria, Calgary, Regina and Edmonton while police removed the tents in London, Ontario and Halifax protesters left on their own.

After a scuffle with firefighters over “ceremonial” fires set by a native group, Vancouver protesters were told by the police to pack up but they are asking the British Columbia Supreme Court to allow them to stay.

The Canadian government is taking aim at the “costly and ineffective” long-gun registry.

“We don’t want laws that target law-abiding citizens, hunters and sports shooters,” Public Safety Minister Vic Toews said while announcing a bill to abolish the list.

The Conservative government has never been in favor of the registry of owners of rifles and shotguns started by a previous Liberal government and plans to destroy the seven-million files.

With more than $1 billion spent to establish and maintain the registry, the government believes it has done little to fight crime and the money would have been better used to hire more police officers.